Many parishioners who attend Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie have family members and loved ones still living in Ukraine, and with the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, it has renewed a tragedy that has been part of their lives for some time.

The Rev. Jason Charron has only been with the church for two weeks, but Ukraine has been a part of his life for much longer. His daughter, Maria, and her older sister were born there. His wife is Ukrainian and they still have family living there, just as many members of his congregation do.

He said they pray often for those suffering in Ukraine and will continue to pray for those affect by the plane crash.

“As a local community, we want to respond to the spiritual catastrophe and needs of those who senselessly lost their lives in the plane crash, so after our 11 o'clock liturgy here, we'll be having a very short memorial service for those who died. We can't always be there on the other side of the world to pray for them, but with God, land doesn't divide us,” said Charron.

He said Sunday’s 11 a.m. service will be in English and they’re hopeful everyone will attend and pray with them.